JJ Abrams To Receive Producers Guild’s Norman Lear Award

The Producers Guild Of America will honor JJ Abrams with its 2013 Norman Lear Award For Television, which it will present during the 24th Annual PGA Awards on January 26. The writer-producer-director started out in television with the WB drama Felicity, which he co-created. He went on to create ABC’s Alias and co-create Lost. Abrams is the founder and president of Bad Robot, which he runs with producing partner Bryan Burk. The company has three series on the air Fox’s Fringe, which Abrams co-created; CBS’ Person Of Interest; and this year’s breakout hit for NBC Revolution. “J.J. Abrams has produced some of the most iconic and highest-rated television shows of the past decade and longer, series that have changed the landscape of television,” said Producers Guild Awards chair Michael DeLuca. “His talent is astonishing, and through his commitment to ingenious storytelling, compelling characters and television programming of the highest quality, he truly lives up to this award’s namesake.”

Abrams co-created his first television series Felicity in 1998 with Matt Reeves and was executive producer on the WB Network series for its four-season run, putting him on the TV map. He then created and executive produced Alias and executive produced Lost which he co-created with Damon Lindelof.

His film credits including Mission: Impossible 3, Star Trek and Super 8, which he also directed. His next effort, a Star Trek sequel, is due next year.

“It is an incredible honor to be asked to accept the Producers Guild Norman Lear Award, especially since Mr. Lear is one of my true heroes,” said Abrams. “I feel privileged to be included among the prestigious list of past recipients, and look forward to celebrating the work of my fellow producers in January.”